MPs support Raila Odinga's call for dialogue on security challenges

A section of MPs have welcomed the gesture by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to sit down with President Uhuru Kenyatta and discuss how to tackle insecurity in the country.

Fafi MP Bare Shill said the Jubilee administration should be ready to listen to anyone with any information or suggestions on how to tackle insecurity.

He said insecurity challenges should not be a concern for the political class only but for all to discuss and find solutions as a people with one destiny.

Mr Shill, who is also the United Republican Party (URP) chairman, said increased insecurity, including trans-national crime and radicalisation of the youth, must be dealt with in a concerted effort.

Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui said the main challenge for Kenya was on legislation, noting that there was need to support the Government in amending the existing laws.

Mr Kiptanui said the law should be amended to give the President and the Inspector General of Police more powers to effectively manage security matters.

While welcoming the former PM’s sentiment to discuss security matters, Kiptanui challenged him to tell Kenyans what he did or failed to do when he was the Prime Minister.
And Kitutu Chache MP Zachary Onyonka welcomed the move, saying the Jubilee administration must engage the opposition in matters that affects the nation.

listening ear

“I totally support the former PM on his move to discuss the issue of insecurity. Kenya is bigger than any of us and the Jubilee government should also have a listening ear and engage with the opposition,” said Onyonka.

But Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior urged the Government to go slow on reviewing security laws.

“The national government ought to go slow on this serious issues to allow all stakeholders to consult and interrogate the contentious issues before it is taken to the President,” he said.

Mutula said the Senate’s position was that the bill is a contravention of the Constitution because the Senate Speaker was not consulted to seek his concurrence before it was tabled before the National Assembly.

“The introduction of the security bill contravened Article 123 of the Constitution because the Speaker was not consulted as required by the Constitution,” said the Senator.